There are many chronic conditions in this world. In a recent centers for disease control and prevention article, they stated that “As of 2012, about half of all adults—117 million people—have one or more chronic health conditions. One of four adults has two or more chronic health conditions.” You can read the full article here: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/ I know that my condition comes with sensitivity to noise and light. I’ve also heard of other chronic conditions experiencing symptoms of sensitivity to noise and light too. I want to share with you some tips that I have found to be helpful coping with these symptoms.

Watch TV and movies with subtitles if you are sensitive to noise. When I was ultra-sensitive to noise, my caregiver (my mom) would set the TV to where she would watch it with subtitles. That helped keep my brain quiet and she was still able to watch TV. It’s important to keep your mind calm and quiet when dealing with sensitivities to noise.

Identify your triggers. You may only be bothered by certain noises, so it’s important to know your triggers. Whether its programs with suspenseful music or big crowds of people, you will need to know what noises bother you so you can limit them. Do your best to limit and avoid the types of noises that are triggers.

Keep your cell phone on vibrate. Instead of having a ringer, you can put your cell phone on vibrate. This will help limit the noise.

Draw the curtains. During the day, the sun can get very bright in some homes. If it gets bright and you are sensitive to light, it’s helpful to draw the curtains so that you do not have a sun glare.

Be honest. If your symptoms are acting up and you are with others, it’s best to be honest. Explaining your situation will most likely be of benefit to you because the people around you can be more sensitive and understanding. People may not understand you facial reactions to the stimulation around you. Just being in the sunlight can cause my eyes to tear.

Don’t have multiple things on at once. When you are home by yourself, or in the car, you have complete control over the noises, so be sure to limit them. Don’t have the TV and music on at the same time. Limit your noise. Focus on one thing at a time instead of having multiple noises and devices on. It will lead to a more peaceful and quiet environment.